The psychological impact of a diagnosis of diabetes: why the moment matters

Authors

  • Jamie Ross Wolfson Institute of Population Health
  • Shoba Poduval Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London
  • Kate Hardenberg Diabetes Psychotherapy Service, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15277/bjd.2026.503

Keywords:

diabetes diagnosis, diabetes distress, psychological wellbeing

References

Thorpe G. Both a person with type 1 diabetes and a doctor: what I have learnt. Br J Diabetes 2026;ONLINE AHEAD OF PUBLICATION. https://doi.org/10.15277/bjd.2026.504

Polonsky WH, Capehorn M, Belton A, et al. Physician–patient communication at diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and its links to patient outcomes: new results from the global IntroDia® study. Diabetes Res Clinical Pract 2017;127:265-74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diabres.2017.03.016

Barry E, Blane D, Ross J, Freeman J. Conversations matter: improving the diagnosis experience for people with type 2 diabetes. Br J Gen Pract 2024;74(748):489-90. https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp24X739713

Peel E, Parry O, Douglas M, Lawton J. Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes: a qualitative analysis of patients’ emotional reactions and views about information provision. Patient Education Counseling 2004;53(3):269-75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2003.07.010

DeCosta P, Grabowski D, Skinner TC. The psychosocial experience and needs of children newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes from their own perspective: a systematic and narrative review. Diabetic Medicine 2020;37(10):1640-52. https://doi.org/10.1111/dme.14354

Landolt MA, Ribi K, Laimbacher J, Vollrath M, Gnehm HE, Sennhauser FH. Brief report: posttraumatic stress disorder in parents of children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes. Journal Pediatric Psychology 2002;27(7):647-52. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/27.7.647

Diabetes UK. What is diabetes distress and burnout? 2025 [Available from: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/living-with-diabetes/ emotional-wellbeing/diabetes-burnout.

Hessler D, Fisher L, Glasgow RE, et al. Reductions in regimen distress are associated with improved management and glycemic control over time. Diabetes Care 2014;37(3):617-24. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc13-0762

Hessler DM, Fisher L, Polonsky WH, et al. Diabetes distress is linked with worsening diabetes management over time in adults with Type 1 diabetes. Diabet Med 2017;34(9):1228-34. https://doi.org/10.1111/dme.13381

Askew C, Solomons L. Too often missing: making emotional and psychological support routine in diabetes care. Diabetes UK emotional wellbeing policy document 2019; https://www.diabetes.org.uk/resources-s3/2019-05/Full%20Report_Too%20Often%20Missing_Diabetes%20UK_Ma y%202019.pdf

Diabetes UK ACBRD. Diabetes and emotional health: a practical guide for health professionals supporting adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. London: Diabetes UK; 2016.

Downloads

Published

2026-05-18

Issue

Section

Editorials